HIST 1161

Modern European History 1

3.0 Credits

Description

This course surveys the world of early modern Europe from the flowering of the Renaissance in
Italy and northern Europe, through the age of the religious wars in the seventeenth century, the
eighteenth-century Age of Enlightenment, and developments in Eastern Europe and Russia,
culminating in the great watershed of the French Revolution. In addition to covering military and
political developments, the course also describes the changes wrought in the social and economic
lives of the people of the emerging nation states of Europe.

Delivery Methods

Print, self-paced or web self-paced.

Prerequisites

None.

Exclusions

Students with credit for HIST 410 or HUMN 416 may not take this course for further credit.

Objectives

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

Explain the emergence of the early modern state system.

Assess the changing role of religion in early modern society.

Describe the positions of men and women in early modern society.

Analyse the structure of society in the early modern period.

Analyse the strength of the principal status groups at various times during the early modern
period.

Explain the impact intellectual developments (for example, the scientific revolution and the
Enlightenment) had on early modern society.

Trace the economic history of early modern Europe.

Describe differences (where they exist) between eastern and western Europe between 1450 and
1800.

Account for the French Revolution.

Course Outline

Unit 1: Early Modern Europe

Unit 2: The Emergence of the Renaissance

Unit 3: The Early Modern State

Unit 4: Religious Revolution and Catholic Reformation

Unit 5: The Age of Religious Wars 1560-1648

Unit 6: The Structure of Early Modern Society

Unit 7: Movement and Communication

Unit 8: The Mid-Century Crisis in Politics and Ideas

Unit 9: State Building and Serfdom

Unit 10: Foundations of the Eighteenth-Century State System and Society

Unit 11: Economic Change, Public Order, and Culture in the Eighteenth Century

Unit 12: The Enlightenment

Unit 13: Europe and the French Revolution

Course Duration

30 weeks.

Required Text and Materials

Students will receive all course materials including the textbooks in their course package.

Open Learning Faculty Member

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students throughout the course. Primary
communication is by phone or by email. You will receive the necessary contact information when
you start your course.

Assessments

In order to successfully complete this course, you must obtain at least 50 % on the final
mandatory examination and 50 % overall. It is strongly recommended that students complete all
assignments in order to achieve the learning objectives of the course. The total mark will be
determined on the following basis: